Blood, sweat, and still tears

[cuda]

The starboard engine wasn't flowing water. A couple months back, I changed the impeller in the sea water pump. Still no flow. Pulled it back out to double check the install, looked fine, and I pulled loose every hose connection I could reach and flushed it. Tried again, still no flow.

Today, I had the idea to pull the pump from the starboard engine that I knew was flowing, and put it on the port side. A real pita to do on either side. I thought the starboard side would be easier, until I saw some brainiac put all the hose clamps on upside down. Obviously installed while the engine was out. After much cussing, sweating, and bleeding, I fired up the port side. Still no flow. I put the pump that was on the port side on the starboard side and fired it up. Pumped fine.

Although I still didn't fix the problem, I did figure out two things.
1. I had the pump together correctly
2. The port side problem isn't the pump

I'm wondering now if it's only a problem when running on the hose. I'm thinking of hooking the boat up to the truck, taking it to the boat launch to fire it up. I'd like to see if it flows then.

Sweating like a butcher today in that bilge. I wanted to get an early start before the sun got directly overhead, but you know what they say about best laid plans.

Everytime I work on these pumps, I get an assortment of cuts and bruises. It's just so much fun.

[THRILLSEEKER]

chit, you should see my bilge. You need a midget wrapped in kevlar just to check the oil level in the trim pumps.

Lots 'O' blood, sweat, and screaming has went into my bilge over the years.

[bajalion]

Those hose clamps eat up my hands everytime. Glad to see I'm not the only one. Couple things.

1. are your engines counter rotating?
2. How does the engine pick up water (from the drive or seperate)
3. Is there a loose line where it is sucking air?
4. Is you water source on land pressurized (garden hose)
5. is the pump in a drive (like an alpha) or on the egine (bravo)

Just trying to help.

[cuda]

Those hose clamps eat up my hands everytime. Glad to see I'm not the only one. Couple things.

1. are your engines counter rotating?
2. How does the engine pick up water (from the drive or seperate)
3. Is there a loose line where it is sucking air?
4. Is you water source on land pressurized (garden hose)
5. is the pump in a drive (like an alpha) or on the egine (bravo)

Just trying to help.


Answers:
1. No, they have transmissions that run the props counter rotating
2. Offshore intake
3. None that I've been able to spot
4. Yes
5. Like a Bravo, belt driven seawater pumps

[THRILLSEEKER]

TRS with hull mounted pickeups??

If you have a series of valves to open and close for flushing make sure that all the right valves are open and closed and also that said valves are actually working and your not just turning a handle (Ive seen handles on ball valves gorged to the point of not being able to spin the ball inside the valve but the handle nut was tight enough that it flet like it was working)

Flush out sea strainers if you have them and check gaskets and any other place in the water pickup system before the pump for air leaks...mainly the strainer.......right birdog:D?

[cuda]

Not Trs. :)

[cuda]

TRS with hull mounted pickeups??

If you have a series of valves to open and close for flushing make sure that all the right valves are open and closed and also that said valves are actually working and your not just turning a handle (Ive seen handles on ball valves gorged to the point of not being able to spin the ball inside the valve but the handle nut was tight enough that it flet like it was working)

Flush out sea strainers if you have them and check gaskets and any other place in the water pickup system before the pump for air leaks...mainly the strainer.......right birdog:D?
You might be on to something with the handle deal. I should be able to pull the handle so the water does not come out of the pickups when I have it on the hose. Neither side will do it, but the port side will run water through the engine. When you crank up the engine, very little comes out of the pickup on the port side (the side that IS flowing). I've pulled the strainers, nothing in them. Pulled the T stat housing, everything looked good.

[THRILLSEEKER]

Same concept on the water pickup.

Ive got the same pickups on my Cig, not sure how Formula did it but on mine there are a set of ball valves right inside the transom to shut off while flushing and another set attached to the sea strainers with a waterhose hookup. Sounds like you either have a blockage in the pickup/hoses/strainer

or you are sucking air somewhere between the pickups and the pump...most likely the strainer or a valve.

[THRILLSEEKER]

You might be on to something with the handle deal. I should be able to pull the handle so the water does not come out of the pickups when I have it on the hose. Neither side will do it, but the port side will run water through the engine. When you crank up the engine, very little comes out of the pickup on the port side (the side that IS flowing). I've pulled the strainers, nothing in them. Pulled the T stat housing, everything looked good.

OK, so your valves do not close???

I would definately change them (easier said than done, on mine at least)

and if one sucks water thru the engine even with the pickup valve open and the other doesnt it sounds like you are sucking air somewhere on the side that isnt flowing.

[cuda]

OK, so your valves do not close???

I would definately change them

and if one sucks water thru the engine even with the pickup valve open and the other doesnt it sounds like you are sucking air somewhere on the port side.

I think it's more likely that the valve that opens for flushing is not opening. Remember, the flush water is under pressure, if there was a place that it sucked air, water would come out when under pressure.

[THRILLSEEKER]

true, sounds like its time to go valve shopping.

[bajalion]

Yep....I think your down to blockage or a bad valve. Just my 0.02

[cuda]

I just pulled the cover off the boat. Debbie's running to the store to get some laundry detergent so I can clean the cover, then we'll hook up the truck and take it to the boat launch and just back it in to see if it will cool then. Boat launch is only half mile away. I'm got even putting the props on. :)

[cuda]

Good call Thrill, took it to the boat launch, and both engines were pumping water fine.:Boating21:
http://www.zippyvideos.com/9177438216271326/11-12-2006_013/*cuda
<a href="http://www.zippyvideos.com/6651397506271286/11-12-2006_012/"><img src="http://i2.zvhost.com/2/n/n0kdcwo1.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<a href="http://www.zippyvideos.com/9177438216271326/11-12-2006_013/"><img src="http://i2.zvhost.com/2/q/qwrx3rf9.jpg" border="0" /></a>

[cuda]

I'm a happy guy! I'm not looking forward to trying to fix that flush valve though.

[cuda]

I live on a dead end street. To get the boat back in where I keep it, you have to start backing it in at the end of my street. Debbie is the backup master. I just kept an eye out, and she backed it right into the same tracks as it was before. :)

[THRILLSEEKER]

Glad it worked,

I was waiting for you to come back and tell a story about how some guy at the ramp came a runnin up sayin hey mister ya aint got no props on that thar c-gar boat. :D

[cuda]

There was a guy walking up, I saw him looking at my stern. I told him I wasn't going far, so I didn't need the props. :)

[bajalion]

Yeah that must have looked pretty wierd. Glad you found the problem:Boating98: